Update for the week Thursday, October 4 - Wednesday, October 10, 2018
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARY’S
SUNDAY 10/7 – Orthros 8:45 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
- No Church School classes
THIS WEEK ELSEWHERE
THURSDAY–SUNDAY, 10/5-10/7– Diocese of Worcester and New England SOYO Fall Camp and Family Camp will be held Thursday–Sunday, October 5-7, at St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. All teens in grades 7-12 are encouraged to attend the Teen SOYO Fall Camp. Family Camp is open to families of all ages. Parents of teenagers are welcome to attend Family Camp while their children attend Teen SOYO Fall Camp. Each camp will have its own distinct program.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
OCTOBER IS YOUTH MONTH – During the Month of October, at St. Mary and throughout the archdiocese, our teens will be taking an active role in the Liturgy by helping with communion, taking collections and reading the Epistle. To get involved, please see Theo Smith.
CHANT REHEARSAL, VESPERS and YOUNG ADULTS – On Saturday, October 13 there will be a Chant Rehearsal at 4:00pm preceding Great Vespers at 5:00. After Vespers, at 6:00pm, the Young Adult group will have a Fellowship Night with potluck dinner, fellowship, & discussion: Why Should I Go to Church Anyway? Seeking Meaning in an Age of Confusion.
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTION - If you are interested in serving on the Parish Council please speak to Mary Winstanley O’Connor or Fr. Antony by Sunday, October 28. To be eligible to serve you must be a member of St. Mary’s for two years and in good financial standing.
COME SEE THE MESSIAH – Join friends from St. Mary’s for the Handel and Haydn Society’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, on Sunday afternoon, December 2, at 3:00 pm. Tickets are just $29 ($36 without our group discount!). We will carpool to (or meet at) Symphony Hall after Liturgy and have lunch together at a nearby restaurant before the concert. Those who have done this before have thoroughly enjoyed it - not only do we hear a world-class orchestra and chorus with famous soloists singing glorious words (taken directly from the Bible), but we also have an opportunity to spend time getting to know some fellow parishioners we normally may not encounter. Good seats go fast - please contact Melissa Nassiff at mnassiff@gmail.com by Sunday, November 4, or order your own tickets online at http://www.handelandhaydn.org
LITURGY RETREAT – A Fall Liturgy Retreat for Church School Students and Families will be held on Monday, November 12 (This is the observed day for Veteran’s Day this year, when most students have the day off and some adults are off from work.) This year’s theme is Liturgy and the Arts. Come and explore the intersection of Liturgy and Iconography, Music, Architecture, Textiles, and more.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - An evening of Celebration to mark the 30th Anniversary of the University of Balamad will be held on Saturday, October 27 at the Doubletree Hilton, Westborough. Special Guest His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH. Reception at 6:00pm followed by Program and Middle Eastern Music. Tickets: $200. For more information, contact Laila Kobrossy Audi at 315-289-2427.
DIOCESAN CHOIRS DAY - The Mission Council of the Diocese of Worcester and New England is sponsoring a day for church musicians and clergy to explore how the physical acts of breathing, making sound, and singing ground us in the present moment and bring us into the presence of Christ. The event, on Saturday, November 10, will be held at St. George Church in W Roxbury from 9:30am-3:00pm. RSVP by Sunday, October 21. For questions, contact Charlie Marge at Charlie.Marge@verizon.net
REMINDERS
OUT OF TOWN - The church Secretary, Barbara Shoop, will be out of town for two weeks October 4-18. Marilyn Robbat will come into the office for a couple of days each week to handle any urgent matters.
- Also, Fr. Antony will be out of town October 16-24. In case of emergency October 16-18 call Mary Winstanley O’Connor, our Parish Council President, at 617-523-1010. For any emergency on the remaining days call the church office or Mary.
YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP NIGHT – Join the Young Adults on Saturday, October 13 for Great Vespers at 5:00pm, followed by Potluck Dinner, Fellowship, and Panel Discussion: Why Should I Go to Church Anyway? Seeking Meaning in an Age of Confusion
ENQUIRERS’ CLASS – The St. Ignatius Catechetical Group (Enquirers’ Class) will begin meeting on Sunday, October 14 (note new date) at 9:00am in the hall. The group is for non-Orthodox adults who are interested in exploring the Christian Faith as it has been – and continues to be – understood, preached, and lived by members of the Holy Orthodox Church. Bob Kowalik will be teaching the group. If you would like to participate, please talk to Bob during coffee hour; or get in touch by phone 617-889-3436 or r.kowalik@comcast.net. For those seeking to be received into the Orthodox Church, participation in the group and Fr. Antony’s blessing are required.
BIBLE STUDY - Welcome back to the Bible Study/Adult Education Program at St. Mary's! Our first meeting will be Tuesday, October 16 from 7-8:30 and we will meet at Christina's apartment in Cambridge. Each bi-weekly session will be an in-depth look at the lectionary reading for the coming two Sundays. Everyone is welcome to attend! If interested, please contact the co-leaders: Steve Walker at smwalk@gmail.com or Christina Palis at christina_palis@mail.harvard.edu.
BAZAAR - St. George, West Roxbury will be holding their Annual Bazaar & Food Fair Friday through Sunday, October 19-21. Friday and Saturday, 10am-9pm, Sunday 12pm-3pm. Admission is free. Middle Eastern cuisine and pastries, baked goods, country store, kids’ corner, handmade holiday and craft items.
KIBBEH and GRAPE LEAVES SALE - This year the Women’s Club will be offering freshly made Kibbeh (ground lamb, onion, pine nuts, cracked wheat and seasoning) and Grapeleaves (rolled with ground lamb, rice and seasoning) for purchase to enjoy during the holidays. Kibbeh will be frozen raw, to be cooked at your convenience. Please use the order form in the Sunday bulletin, include payment and mail to the church or pass it in at the Bengarri or the office. Order deadline is Sunday, October 21 and order pick-up will be November 4 at the church. We look forward to receiving your order!
BAKE SALE - The Women’s Club will hold a Charity Bake Sale Sunday, October 21immediately following Liturgy in the church hall. All proceeds will benefit the charitable projects we sponsor, from the YWCA Family Shelter in Cambridge to the Antiochian Women’s project. E-mail Renay DiFiore, renayanddon@aol.com or Barbara Shoop, barbara@dsaarchitects.com or call the Church Office at 617-547-1234, or email secretary@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org, if you can help bake and/or donate.
ICON EXHIBIT – The Museum of Russian Icons (203 Union Street, Clinton, MA) is showing an exhibition of Icons of the Hellenic World, focusing exclusively on Greek and Byzantine iconography, through October 21. For information see http://www.museumofrussianicons.org/current-exhibitions
WOMEN’S CLUB - The next Women’s Club meeting will be held in one corner of the Hall on Sunday, October 28, immediately after Liturgy
BAZAAR - St. John of Damascus in Dedham (300 West St.) will be holding their Annual Bazaar Friday through Sunday, November 3-5: Friday 12pm-9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday 12pm- 2pm.. Middle Eastern cuisine, country store, Christmas corner and more. For more information visit www.stjohnd.org/bazaar.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Help support our Canned Food Drive! From October through December 31, bring in canned goods and place them in the plastic bins in the room outside the kitchen. (Canned goods only, please.) They will be distributed to food pantries in our area.
JOIN US ONLINE - St. Mary’s Church services are broadcast live each week through an internet video stream. If you can't attend a service in person, or want to share this ministry with a friend or loved one, the live stream can be viewed at www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/live during regularly scheduled service times (see the schedule of services or online). If you have questions or comments about this ministry please contact us at live@stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
HOSPITALITY GROUP NEEDS VOLUNTEERS – St. Mary’s Donald DiFiore Memorial Hospitality Group works to build community among the larger St. Mary’s congregation, so that we can come together in service, celebration and fellowship outside of liturgy and coffee hour. We need members to join our ranks, and help with planning and running fellowship events such as Lenten Potluck Suppers, the Dormition Feast, special coffee hours, our annual Picnic, etc. Even if you could commit to just one event per year, this would immeasurably help strengthen the sense of community and family in our parish. We also welcome new ideas for fellowship gatherings – anything that brings us together in communion. If interested, please email Diana Yousef (yousefd@post.harvard.edu).
REFLECTION
For "when I am weak, then am I strong," and the strength of the spirit is made perfect in the weakness of the flesh. Even an apostle must bear what he dislikes, that ailment for the removal of which he besought the Lord thrice. God's reply was: "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Lest he should be unduly elated by his revelations, a reminder of his human weakness was given to him, just as in the triumphal car of the victorious general there was always a slave to whisper constantly, amid the cheerings of the multitude, "Remember that thou art but man."
- St. Jerome, Letters
The real and true life then is the Father, who through the Son in the Holy Spirit pours forth as from a fountain His heavenly gifts to all; and through His love to man, the blessings of life eternal are promised without fail to us men also. We must not disbelieve the possibility of this, but having an eye not to our own weakness but to His power, we must believe; for with God all things are possible.
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures